Robert Downey Jr may wear a nearly indestructible armored suit when he’s playing Iron Man, but it wasn’t enough to protect him from injury while filming Iron Man 3.
The 47-year-old actor sustained a minor injury to his ankle while shooting a stunt on the North Carolina set of Iron Man 3, Marvel Studios said in a statement.
Production for the film has been placed on hold until Downey can recover from his injury.
“Robert Downey Jr. sustained an ankle injury on the set of Iron Man 3 in Wilmington, N.C., while performing a stunt,” the studio said. “There will be a short delay in the production schedule while he recuperates.”
Expectations are going through the roof for the highly anticipated sequel especially after the first two films had exceptional performances at the box office, topping out at $585 million and $623 million, respectively.
Director Shane Black has successfully kept a tight lid on plot details for the film. However, rumors suggest it is based on the comic book’s popular Extremis storyline, in which a scientist creates a drug that grants people superhuman abilities. Tony Starks is also suppose to get a new bio-nanotech suit that integrates with his DNA.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Kingsley, Rebecca Hall and Guy Pearce star alongside Downy, who hopefully isn’t so seriously hurt that the May 3, 2013 release date of Iron Man 3 is in jeopardy.
